US20200172530A1 - Small Molecule Sensitization of BAX Activation for Induction of Cell Death - Google Patents

Small Molecule Sensitization of BAX Activation for Induction of Cell Death Download PDF

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US20200172530A1
US20200172530A1 US16/492,841 US201816492841A US2020172530A1 US 20200172530 A1 US20200172530 A1 US 20200172530A1 US 201816492841 A US201816492841 A US 201816492841A US 2020172530 A1 US2020172530 A1 US 2020172530A1
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alkyl
bax
composition
bif
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Loren D. Walensky
Jonathan Pritz
Franziska Wachter
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute Inc
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute Inc
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Definitions

  • Methods of treating diseases associated with BAX e.g., cancer
  • methods of identifying compounds which sensitize and/or activate the pro-apoptotic activity of a BAX polypeptide are also described.
  • BAX is a 21 kDa globular protein composed of nine ⁇ -helices and functions as a critical effector of the BCL-2 family-regulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
  • An ⁇ 5/ ⁇ 6 hairpin forms the protein's hydrophobic core, the juxtaposition of ⁇ -helices 1 and 6 creates a ligand-interaction surface that regulates the initiation of BAX activation, and at the opposite face of the protein the auto-inhibitory ⁇ 9 helix resides in a hydrophobic groove composed of portions of ⁇ -helices 2, 3 and 4 (see e.g., Suzuki et al, Cell, 200, 103:645-654).
  • BAX is an apoptotic regulator that can be transformed from a cytosolic monomer into a lethal mitochondrial oligomer.
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula I:
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1-3 alkylene, —O—, —O(C 1-3 alkylene)-, C 1-3 cyanoalkylene, —S—, —SO 2 —, —S(C 1-3 alkylene)-, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of halo, OH, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, NH 2 , CN, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl are each optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, CN, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC
  • L 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—.
  • L 1 is —O—, —CH 2 —, or —OCH 2 —.
  • R 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of Cl, CH 3 , CF 3 , NH 2 , CN, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl are each optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • R 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of Cl, CH 3 , CF 3 , NH 2 , CN, phenyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, and 4,5-dihydrothiazolyl wherein the phenyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, and 4,5-dihydrothiazolyl are each optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • each R A of Formula I is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 .
  • R 1 of Formula I is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups. In some embodiments, R 1 of Formula I is phenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 4-carboxylphenyl, or 4-hydroxymethylphenyl.
  • R 2 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 . In some embodiments, R 2 of Formula I is H or CH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 . In some embodiments, R 3 of Formula I is H.
  • R 4 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CF 3 , and OCH 3 CN. In some embodiments, R 4 of Formula I is H or OH.
  • R 5 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , and C(O)CH 3 . In some embodiments, R 5 of Formula I is H or NH 2 .
  • R 6 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 . In some embodiments, R 6 of Formula I is H.
  • the compound of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of:
  • the compound of Formula I is:
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula II:
  • X 1 is NH or S
  • X 2 is C or N
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, and —SO 2 —
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-3 alkyl, NH 2 , di(C 1-3 alkyl)amino, and a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-3 alkyl, and 5-6 membered heteroaryl
  • R 4 is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH.
  • X 1 of Formula II is S.
  • X 2 of Formula II is C.
  • X 2 of Formula II is N.
  • R 1 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , NH 2 , N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl.
  • -L 1 -R 1 of Formula II forms a group selected from the group consisting of NH 2 , C(O)OCH 3 , C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 , C(O)N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , SO 02 -piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl.
  • R 2 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and thienyl.
  • R 4 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • the compound of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of:
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula III:
  • Ring A forms a fused ring with Ring B and Ring A is selected from the group consisting of a 5-6 membered cycloalkyl, a 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein Ring A is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl, OC(O)C 1-3 alkyl, C(S)NH 2 , and ⁇ N—OH;
  • R 1a is H; or R 1a is absent when the carbon atom to which R 1a is attached forms a double bond;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H and halo;
  • R 2a is H; or R 2a is absent when the carbon atom to which R 2a is attached forms a double bond;
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H,
  • Ring A is a 5-6 membered heteroaryl which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups. In some embodiments, Ring A is a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl groups which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups. In some embodiments, each R A of Formula III is independently selected from the group consisting of ⁇ O, ⁇ S, CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, SCH 3 , and C(O)OH. In some embodiments, Ring A is an unsubstituted 5-6 membered cycloalkyl.
  • Ring A is selected from the group consisting of:
  • R 1 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OCH 3 , OC(O)CH 3 , C(S)NH 2 , and ⁇ N—OH.
  • R 2 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H and Cl.
  • R 2a of Formula III is H. In some embodiments, R 2a of Formula III is absent.
  • R 3 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, NHC(O)CH 3 , and CH 2 NHCH 3 .
  • R 3a of Formula III is CH 3 . In some embodiments, R 3a of Formula III is absent.
  • R 4 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H and CH 3 .
  • the compound of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of:
  • composition comprising a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV:
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1-3 alkylene, —O—, —O(C 1-3 alkylene)-, C 1-3 cyanoalkylene, —S—, —SO 2 —, —S(C 1-3 alkylene)-, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, 5-6 membered heteroarylene, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkylene, each of which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, CN, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl;
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, NH 2 , C(O)C 1-3 alkyl, and C(S)C 1-3 alkyl;
  • R 4 is selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of the group consisting
  • L 1 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—.
  • R 1 of Formula IV is phenylene optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • each R A of Formula IV is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 .
  • R 2 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 .
  • R 4 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CF 3 , and OCH 3 CN.
  • R 5 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , and C(O)CH 3 .
  • R 6 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • the present application further provides a method of sensitizing and/or activating the pro-apoptotic activity of BAX, comprising contacting a cell sample or tissue sample comprising BAX with a composition provided herein.
  • the present application further provides a method of sensitizing and/or activating pro-apoptotic activity of BAX in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition provided herein.
  • the present application further provides a method of treating cancer in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition provided herein.
  • the cancer is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, malignant melanoma, ovarian cancer, brain cancer, primary brain carcinoma, head-neck cancer, glioma, glioblastoma, liver cancer, bladder cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, head or neck carcinoma, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, lung carcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, stomach carcinoma, colon carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma, genitourinary carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, myeloma, multiple myeloma, adrenal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, adrenal cortex carcinoma, malignant pancreatic insulinoma, malignant carcinoid carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, mycosis fungoides, malignant hypercalcemia, cervical hyperplasia, leukemia, neuroblastom
  • the cancer is leukemia.
  • the leukemia is selected from the group consisting of acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.
  • the leukemia is selected from the group consisting of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
  • the present application further provides a method for identifying a compound which sensitizes and/or activates the pro-apoptotic activity of a BAX polypeptide, the method comprising:
  • binding site of the BAX polypeptide comprises the junction of the ⁇ 3- ⁇ 4 and ⁇ 5- ⁇ 6 hairpins of the BAX polypeptide.
  • the determining step is performed by saturation transfer difference NMR, HSQC NMR, surface plasmon resonance, biolayer interferometry, or competitive fluorescence polarization assay.
  • binding of the compound to the BAX polypeptide causes a change in the signal of the NMR spectrum of the compound.
  • the method further comprising detecting activation of the BAX polypeptide by the compound.
  • the detecting step comprises performing an assay selected from the group consisting of detecting BAX oligomerization, antibody-based detection of BAX conformers, a mitochondrial cytochrome c release assay, a liposomal release assay, a cell death assay, a mitochondrial or cellular morphology assay, a mitochondrial calcium flux assay, a mitochondrial transmembrane quantitation assay, and quantitation of caspase 3 activity or annexin V binding.
  • the compound binds to said binding site with an affinity of ⁇ 1 mM. In some embodiments, the compound sensitizes activation of the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide. In some embodiments, the compound activates the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide.
  • the method further comprises administration of an additional therapeutic agent which activates pro-apoptotic activity of BAX.
  • the additional therapeutic agent is BIM SAHB A2 .
  • FIG. 1 a shows BAX, which contains a series of surface grooves that regulate its pro-apoptotic activity, including BH3-binding trigger and canonical sites, and inhibitory BCL-2 BH4 and vMIA interaction pockets.
  • FIG. 1 b shows identification of compounds (also referred to as BAX-interacting fragments (BIFs)) as described herein by sequential STD-NMR screening in pools of 10, 3, and then singlet, yielding 56 candidate BIFs.
  • BIFs BAX-interacting fragments
  • FIG. 1 c shows that BIF-44 has no independent effect on the liposomes (black, left), minimal direct BAX activation activity (black, middle), but notably enhances the kinetics and quantity of liposomal release upon addition of BIM SAHB A2 (black, right), exceeding the maximal level of release achieved by the BIM SAHB A2 and BAX combination alone (grey, right).
  • Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for experiments performed in technical triplicate, and repeated at least twice with similar results using independent liposomal and protein preparations.
  • FIG. 1 d shows that competitive STD NMR demonstrates that the BIF-44 STD signal is unaffected by co-incubation with BIM SAHB A2 .
  • FIGS. 2 a -2 b show that liposomal release assays demonstrate little to no direct, BAX-activating effect of BIF-44 across a broad dose range, but sensitizes BH3-triggered direct BAX activation upon co-incubation with BIM SAHB A2 ( FIG. 2 b ). Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for experiments performed in technical triplicate.
  • FIGS. 2 c -2 d show that competitive fluorescence polarization assays (FPA) demonstrate that BIF-44 does not effectively compete with FITC BIM SAHB A2 for BAX interaction ( FIG. 2 c ), yet does compete with FITC-vMIA in dose responsive fashion ( FIG. 2 d ).
  • the corresponding N-terminal acetylated peptides serve as positive controls for competition in each assay: Ac-BIM SAHB A2 , blue ( FIG. 2 c ); AcvMIA, purple ( FIG. 2 d ). Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for experiments performed in technical quadruplicate.
  • FIG. 2 e shows that competitive STD-NMR demonstrate suppression of the BIF-44 STD signal (black) upon co-incubation with vMIA peptide (grey), but not BIM SAHB A2 , consistent with the competitive FPA results shown in FIGS. 2 c -2 d .
  • Data are representative of at least two independent experiments.
  • FIGS. 3 a -3 e show structure-activity relationships of BIF-44 analogs. Chemical structures (left), STD binding (grey) and BAX-mediated liposomal release sensitization activity of BIF-44 analogs are provided. Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for liposomal release experiments performed in technical triplicate (right). Data are representative of at least two independent experiments.
  • FIGS. 4 a -4 e show that BIF-44 targets the vMIA-binding region of BAX and influences conformational dynamics.
  • FIG. 4 a shows measured chemical shift changes of 15 N-BAX upon addition of BIF-44 (6:1, BIF:BAX), plotted as a function of BAX residue number.
  • Significant changes at the 1 SD cutoff threshold ( ⁇ 0.012 ppm significance threshold) are colored orange and encompass internal residues of the ⁇ 5 and ⁇ 6 core and discrete, juxtaposed residues of ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2.
  • FIG. 4 b shows residues that are represented as red and orange bars in the residue plot of FIG. 4 a are mapped accordingly onto the ribbon diagrams of monomeric BAX (PDB ID: 1F16).
  • the most prominent chemical shift changes (2 SD cutoff) localize to the region implicated in the vMIA peptide (purple) interaction.
  • a second cluster of chemical shift changes (1 SD cutoff) localize to internal and juxtaposed residues of ⁇ 5, ⁇ 6 and ⁇ 1, ⁇ 2, suggestive of allosteric sensing from the adjacent hydrophobic core to the ⁇ 1-loop- ⁇ 2 region of the BAX N-terminal face.
  • FIG. 4 c shows molecular docking of BIF-44 based on the observed chemical shift changes of 15 N-BAX (black, 2 SD, grey 1 SD) upon BIF-44 titration.
  • BIF-44 is shown engaging a deep cleft formed by the hydrophobic ⁇ 5 and ⁇ 6 helices, and the ⁇ 3- ⁇ 4 hairpin of BAX on the surface (left) and ribbon (middle, right) views.
  • FIG. 4 d shows RMSF values for the Ca of each BAX residue over the course of the 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation for BAX in the presence (grey) or absence (black) of BIF-44.
  • FIG. 4 e shows the difference in RMSF (ARMSF) between the unliganded and liganded forms of BAX. Residues above one SD threshold are shown in grey, indicate increased mobility upon BIF-44 binding, and localized to the ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 region of BAX. Residues from the unstructured portions at the N- and C-termini (residues 1-15 and 188-192, respectively) are excluded from the plot.
  • RMSF ARMSF
  • FIGS. 5 a -5 d show HXMS reveals allosteric deprotection of the ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop and BAX BH3 domain upon BIF-44 binding.
  • FIG. 5 a shows that the addition of BIF-44 to BAX (30 ⁇ M, 10:1 BIF:BAX) in a liposomal environment triggers a regiospecific increase in deuterium incorporation compared to unliganded BAX, as measured by HXMS.
  • the relative difference plot reflects the relative deuterium incorporation of BIF-44/BAX minus the relative deuterium incorporation of BAX.
  • Dark gray shading represents changes in the plot that are below the significance threshold of 0.5 Da, whereas light gray shading and the white region highlight changes above the baseline significance threshold of 0.5 Da and the more stringent threshold of 0.8 Da, respectively.
  • Data are representative of at least two independent experiments.
  • FIG. 5 b shows that the region of BIF-44-induced deprotection encompasses peptide fragments corresponding to amino acids 46-74, which are highlighted in black on the ribbon diagram (left, PDB ID: 1F16) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1, right), and map to the critical ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop and BH3 regions of BAX.
  • FIGS. 5 c -5 d show that the deprotection induced by BIF-44 is suppressed by co-incubation with an anti-BAX BH3 antibody ( FIG. 5 c ), but not the BAX 6A7 antibody ( FIG. 5 d ), which binds to N-terminal residues of conformationally-activated BAX.
  • the BAX amino acid sequences recognized by the BAX BH3 and 6A7 antibodies are underlined in light grey and dark grey, respectively.
  • the relative difference plots reflect the relative deuterium incorporation of BIF-44/BAX/BH3 Ab ( FIG. 5 c ) and BIF-44/BAX/6A7 Ab ( FIG. 5 d ) minus the relative deuterium incorporation of BAX. Data are representative of at least two independent experiments.
  • FIGS. 6 a -6 c show BIF-44 sensitized the BH3-triggered conformational activation and cytochrome c release activity of BAX.
  • FIG. 6 a shows comparative HXMS profiles of BAX in the presence of liposomes upon exposure to BIF-44 (light grey border), BIM SAHB A2 (dark grey), or both ligands (black).
  • the relative difference plots reflect the relative deuterium incorporation of BIF-44/BAX (light grey border), BIM SAHB A2 /BAX (dark grey), and BIF-44/BIM SAHB A2 /BAX (black) minus the relative deuterium incorporation of BAX.
  • Dark gray shading represents changes in the plot that are below the significance threshold of 0.5 Da, whereas light gray shading and the white region highlight changes above the baseline significance threshold of 0.5 Da and the more stringent threshold of 0.8 Da, respectively.
  • Data are representative of at least two independent experiments.
  • FIG. 6 b shows that the prominent region of deprotection ( ⁇ 1, ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop, and ⁇ 2) induced by treating BAX with the synergistic BIF-44/BIM SAHB A2 combination is highlighted in green on the ribbon diagram (PDB ID: 1F16) and amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1).
  • FIG. 6 c shows BIF-44 dose-responsively sensitized BIM SAHB A2 -triggered, BAX-mediated cytochrome c release from isolated Alb Cre Bax f/f Bak ⁇ / ⁇ mouse liver mitochondria. Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for experiments performed in technical triplicate, and repeated twice more with similar results using independent preparations and treatments of mitochondria.
  • FIGS. 7 a -7 c show STD and CPMG NMR analysis of the BIF-44/BAX interaction.
  • FIGS. 7 a -7 b show STD NMR of BIF-44 in the presence and absence of BAX protein.
  • the off-resonance condition shows no effect on the aromatic region of BIF-44 in the presence or absence of BAX ( FIG. 7 a ).
  • FIG. 7 c shows CPMG NMR of BIF-44 in the presence and absence of BAX.
  • BAX protein enhanced the transverse relaxation rate, R2, of the BIF-44 ligand, which is reflected by a sharp decrease in 1H-NMR signal and indicative of ligand-protein interaction.
  • FIGS. 8 a -8 b show FITC-BIM SAHB A2 and vMIA peptides directly bind to BAX. Fluorescence polarization assays demonstrate direct interaction between BAX and the FITC-BIM SAHB A2 ( FIG. 8 a ) and FITC-vMIA ( FIG. 8 b ) peptides. Error bars are mean ⁇ SD for experiments performed in quadruplicate.
  • FIG. 9 shows 15 N-HSQC analysis of BAX upon BIF-44 titration. Measured chemical shift changes of 15 N-BAX upon addition of BIF-44 at ratios of 4:1, 6:1, and 8:1 (BIF:BAX), plotted as a function of BAX residue number. Significant changes at a 1 SD cutoff threshold for each dosing ratio ( ⁇ 0.012, 0.018, and 0.022 ppm significance thresholds) are colored black, blue, and red, respectively.
  • FIG. 10 shows isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements which demonstrates that BIF-44 binds to BAX with a dissociation constant (KD) of 37 ⁇ 12 M.
  • ITC isothermal titration calorimetry
  • FIG. 11 shows that BIF-44 sensitization of BAX-mediated liposome release is independent of the order of addition.
  • the same level of BAX activation is achieved whether BIF-44 is added simultaneously (left), before (right), or after (middle) the addition of BIM SAHB A2 .
  • the concentration of BAX and BIF-44 was 750 nM and 113 ⁇ M (150 ⁇ ), respectively.
  • Samples were diluted in liposome release assay buffer (10 mM HEPES, 200 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , pH 7.0).
  • FIG. 12 shows that BIF-44 does not exhibit line broadening in the 1 H-NMR spectrum, unlike two known small molecule aggregators, 4-ADPA and I4PTH. Samples were diluted to the indicated concentrations in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2, 10% D 2 O.
  • FIG. 13 shows that BIF-44 does not exhibit rapid or dose dependent decrease in T2 decay, while the aggregating compound 4-ADPA demonstrates rapid T2 decay (top, gray). BIF-44 had a long decay time that was independent of concentration (bottom). Samples were diluted to the indicated concentrations in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2, 10% D 2 O.
  • FIG. 14 shows dynamic light scattering which indicates that BIF-44 does not aggregate in solution. While 4-ADPA (gray) and I4PTH (black) demonstrated dose-dependent increase in light scattering, the BIF-44 signal remains flat. Samples were diluted to the indicated concentrations in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2.
  • FIG. 15 shows ensemble docking to define the BIF-44 binding site on BAX.
  • BIF-44 was docked to all 20 NMR solution structures (PDB:1F16) using the HSQC results to guide the docking. The pose with the best binding score for each model is shown.
  • the BIF-44 binding pocket (bottom, black) is comprised of the following residues: Ile80, Ala81, Ala82, Va183, Asp84, Thr85, Asp86, Ser87, Pro88, Val91, Phe116, Lys119, Leu120, Val121, Lys123, Ala124, Thr127, Leu132, and Ile136.
  • BAX For such a small protein, a surprisingly large series of regulatory surfaces and complex conformational changes have been defined for BAX, as shown in FIG. 1 a .
  • BAX In its conformationally inactive state, BAX is predominantly cytosolic and may also cycle to and from the mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) region through a retrotranslocation process mediated by anti-apoptotic proteins, such as BCL-XL (see e.g, Edlich et al, Cell, 2011, 145:104-116).
  • MOM mitochondrial outer membrane
  • BH3-only direct activator proteins such as BIM, BID, and PUMA
  • BIM BIM
  • BID BID
  • PUMA BH3-only direct activator proteins
  • BAX's central role in apoptosis induction derives from its capacity to undergo a major conformational change that results in irreversible mitochondrial translocation, intramembrane homo-oligomerization, and MOM poration (see e.g., Walensky et al, Trends Biochem. Sci. 2011, 36:642-652).
  • the inherent risk to the cell of renegade BAX activation may underlie the mechanistic basis for its multifaceted regulation.
  • BCL-2 family proteins Given the central role of BCL-2 family proteins in apoptosis regulation during health and disease, efforts have been underway to disarm anti-apoptotic proteins in cancer, where sequestration and inactivation of pro-apoptotic members drives cellular immortality. Specifically, the mechanism by which anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2 deploy a surface groove to trap the apoptosis-triggering BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) helices of pro-apoptotic proteins, has now been drugged by venetoclax, a selective BCL-2 pocket inhibitor (see e.g., Souers et al, Nat. Med. 2013, 19:202-208; Sattler et al, Science, 1997, 275:983-986).
  • BH3 BCL-2 homology 3
  • BAMs BAX activator molecules
  • the present application provides compounds or molecular fragments that engage BAX at a deep hydrophobic pocket in a region that can otherwise be naturally occluded by the BAX-inhibitory BH4 domain of BCL-2 (see e.g., Barclay et al, Mol. Cell, 2015, 57:873-886) or cytomegalovirus vMIA peptide (see e.g., Ma et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2012, 109:20901-20906).
  • the present application describes that molecular engagement sensitizes BAX by allosteric mobilization of the ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop and the BAX BH3 helix, highlighting key mechanistic steps involved in BH3-mediated direct activation and homo-oligomerization of BAX (see e.g., Gavathiotis et al, Mol. Cell, 2010, 40:481-492; Wang et al, Mol. Cell. Biol. 1998, 18:6083-6089).
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula I:
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1-3 alkylene, —O—, —O(C 1-3 alkylene)-, C 1-3 cyanoalkylene, —S—, —SO 2 —, —S(C 1-3 alkylene)-, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of halo, OH, C 1-3 alkyl, C 1-3 haloalkyl, NH 2 , CN, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl are each optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, CN, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC 1-3
  • L 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—.
  • L 1 of Formula I is —O—, —CH 2 —, or —OCH 2 —.
  • R 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of Cl, CH 3 , CF 3 , NH 2 , CN, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl are each optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • R 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of C 1 , CH 3 , CF 3 , NH 2 , CN, phenyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, and 4,5-dihydrothiazolyl wherein the phenyl, pyridyl, furanyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, and 4,5-dihydrothiazolyl are each optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • each R A of Formula I is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 .
  • R 1 of Formula I is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • R 1 of Formula I is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups, wherein each R A is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CH 2 OH, and C(O)OH.
  • R 1 of Formula I is phenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 4-carboxylphenyl, or 4-hydroxymethylphenyl.
  • R 2 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • R 2 of Formula I is H or CH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula I is H.
  • R 4 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CF 3 , and OCH 3 CN.
  • R 4 of Formula I is H or OH.
  • R 5 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , and C(O)CH 3 .
  • R 5 of Formula I is H or NH 2 .
  • R 6 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • R 6 of Formula I is H.
  • L 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of Cl, CH 3 , CF 3 , NH 2 , CN, phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein the phenyl, 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl are each optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups;
  • each R A of Formula I is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 ;
  • L 1 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 of Formula I is phenyl which is optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups; each R A of Formula I is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 ;
  • R 2 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 ;
  • R 3 of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 ;
  • the compound of Formula I is selected from the group consisting of:
  • the compound of Formula I is:
  • the compound of Formula I is:
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula II:
  • X 1 is NH or S
  • X 2 is C or N
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, and —SO 2 —
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1-3 alkyl, NH 2 , di(C 1-3 alkyl)amino, and a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, C 1-3 alkyl, and 5-6 membered heteroaryl
  • R 4 is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH.
  • X 1 of Formula II is S.
  • X 2 of Formula II is C.
  • X 2 of Formula II is N.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH and X 2 of Formula II is C.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH and X 2 of Formula II is N.
  • X 1 of Formula II is S and X 2 of Formula II is C.
  • X 1 of Formula II is S and X 2 of Formula II is N.
  • R 1 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , NH 2 , N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl.
  • -L 1 -R 1 of Formula II forms a group selected from the group consisting of NH 2 , C(O)OCH 3 , C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 , C(O)N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , SO 02 -piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl.
  • R 2 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and thienyl.
  • R 4 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH or S; X 2 of Formula II is C or N; L 1 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, and —SO 2 —; R 1 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , NH 2 , N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl; R 2 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 ; R 3 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and thienyl; and R 4 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • X 1 of Formula II is NH or S; X 2 of Formula II is C or N; -L 1 -R 1 of Formula II forms a group selected from the group consisting of NH 2 , C(O)OCH 3 , C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 , C(O)N(CH 2 CH 3 ) 2 , SO 2 -piperidinyl, and dihydrothiophen-3(2H)-onyl; R 2 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 2 CH 3 ; R 3 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H, CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and thienyl; and R 4 of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of H and C 1-3 alkyl.
  • the compound of Formula II is selected from the group consisting of:
  • composition comprising a compound of Formula III:
  • Ring A forms a fused ring with Ring B and Ring A is selected from the group consisting of a 5-6 membered cycloalkyl, a 5-6 membered heteroaryl, and a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, wherein Ring A is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl, OC(O)C 1-3 alkyl, C(S)NH 2 , and ⁇ N—OH;
  • R 1a is H; or R 1a is absent when the carbon atom to which R 1a is attached forms a double bond;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H and halo;
  • R 2a is H; or R 2a is absent when the carbon atom to which R 2a is attached forms a double bond;
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H,
  • Ring A is a 5-6 membered heteroaryl which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups.
  • Ring A is a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups.
  • each R A of Formula III is independently selected from the group consisting of ⁇ O, ⁇ S, CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, SCH 3 , and C(O)OH.
  • Ring A is an unsubstituted 5-6 membered cycloalkyl.
  • Ring A is selected from the group consisting of:
  • R 1 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OCH 3 , OC(O)CH 3 , C(S)NH 2 , and ⁇ N—OH.
  • R 2 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H and Cl.
  • R 2a of Formula III is H.
  • R 2a of Formula III is absent.
  • R 3 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, NHC(O)CH 3 , and CH 2 NHCH 3 .
  • R 3a of Formula III is CH 3 .
  • R 3a of Formula III is absent.
  • R 4 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H and CH 3 .
  • Ring A is selected from the group consisting of a 5-6 membered heteroaryl, a 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl, and an unsubstituted 5-6 membered cycloalkyl, wherein the 5-6 membered heteroaryl and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkyl group are each optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 1 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, C(O)OCH 3 , OC(O)CH 3 , C(S)NH 2 , and ⁇ N—OH;
  • R 2 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H and Cl;
  • R 2a of Formula III is H; or R 2a is absent when the carbon atom to which R 2a is attached forms a double bond;
  • R 3 of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, NHC(O)CH 3 , and CH 2 NHCH 3 ;
  • R 3a of Formula III
  • the compound of Formula III is selected from the group consisting of:
  • composition comprising a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV:
  • L 1 is selected from the group consisting of a bond, C 1-3 alkylene, —O—, —O(C 1-3 alkylene)-, C 1-3 cyanoalkylene, —S—, —SO 2 —, —S(C 1-3 alkylene)-, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, 5-6 membered heteroarylene, and 5-6 membered heterocycloalkylene, each of which is optionally substituted by 1, 2, or 3 independently selected R A groups;
  • R 2 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, CN, C 1-3 alkyl, and C(O)OC 1-3 alkyl;
  • R 3 is selected from the group consisting of H, halo, OH, NH 2 , C(O)C 1-3 alkyl, and C(S)C 1-3 alkyl;
  • R 4 is selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of
  • L 1 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—.
  • R 1 of Formula IV is phenylene optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups.
  • each R A of Formula IV is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 .
  • R 2 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • R 3 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 .
  • R 4 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CF 3 , and OCH 3 CN.
  • R 5 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , and C(O)CH 3 .
  • R 6 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 .
  • L 1 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of a bond, —CH 2 —, —O—, —OCH 2 —, —CH(CN)—, —S—, —SO 2 —, —SCH 2 —, and —C(O)—;
  • R 1 of Formula IV is phenylene optionally substituted by 1 or 2 independently selected R A groups; each R A of Formula IV is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, NH 2 , CN, CH 3 , CH 2 OH, CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 , C(O)OH, C(O)CH 3 , and C(O)N(CH 3 ) 2 ;
  • R 2 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, CN, CH 3 , and C(O)OCH 3 ;
  • R 3 of Formula IV is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, NH 2 , C(O)CH 3 , and C(S)CH 3 ;
  • compositions provided herein can be administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions.
  • These compositions can be prepared as described herein or elsewhere, and can be administered by a variety of routes, depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including transdermal, epidermal, ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including intranasal, vaginal, and rectal delivery), pulmonary (e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal or intranasal), oral, or parenteral.
  • topical including transdermal, epidermal, ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including intranasal, vaginal, and rectal delivery
  • pulmonary e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal or intranasal
  • oral or parenteral.
  • Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal intramuscular injection, or intraperitoneal intramuscular infusion; or intracranial, (e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration).
  • Parenteral administration can be in the form of a single bolus dose, or may be, for example, by a continuous perfusion pump.
  • compositions for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders.
  • Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable.
  • compositions which contain, as the active ingredient, a compound provided herein (e.g., a compound of Formulas I-III or a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (e.g., excipients).
  • a pharmaceutically acceptable carriers e.g., excipients.
  • the active ingredient is typically mixed with an excipient, diluted by an excipient, or enclosed within such a carrier in the form of, for example, a capsule, sachet, paper, or other container.
  • the excipient serves as a diluent, it can be a solid, semi-solid, or liquid material, which acts as a vehicle, carrier or medium for the active ingredient.
  • compositions can be in the form of tablets, pills, powders, lozenges, sachets, cachets, elixirs, suspensions, emulsions, solutions, syrups, aerosols (as a solid or in a liquid medium), ointments, soft and hard gelatin capsules, suppositories, sterile injectable solutions, and sterile packaged powders.
  • excipients include, but are not limited to, lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, starches, gum acacia, calcium phosphate, alginates, tragacanth, gelatin, calcium silicate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, water, syrup, and methyl cellulose.
  • the compositions can additionally include, without limitation, lubricating agents such as talc, magnesium stearate, and mineral oil; wetting agents; emulsifying and suspending agents; preserving agents such as methyl- and propylhydroxy-benzoates; sweetening agents; flavoring agents, or combinations thereof.
  • the active ingredient can be effective over a wide dosage range and is generally administered in a therapeutically effective amount. It will be understood, however, that the amount of the compound and/or composition actually administered will usually be determined by a physician, according to the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound or composition administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual subject, the severity of the subject's symptoms, and the like.
  • divalent linking substituents are described. It is specifically intended that each divalent linking substituent include both the forward and backward forms of the linking substituent.
  • —NR(CR′R′′) n — includes both —NR(CR′R′′) n — and —(CR′R′′) n NR—.
  • the Markush variables listed for that group are understood to be linking groups.
  • the phrase “optionally substituted” means unsubstituted or substituted.
  • substituted means that a hydrogen atom is removed and replaced by a substituent. It is to be understood that substitution at a given atom is limited by valency.
  • C n-m indicates a range which includes the endpoints, wherein n and m are integers and indicate the number of carbons. Examples include C 1-4 , C 1-6 , and the like.
  • C n-m alkylene employed alone or in combination with other terms (e.g., cyanoalkylene), refers to a divalent alkyl linking group having n to m carbons.
  • alkylene groups include, but are not limited to, methylene, ethan-1,2-diyl, propan-1,3-diyl, propan-1,2-diyl, and the like.
  • the alkylene moiety contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms.
  • C n-m cyanoalkylene refers to a divalent alkyl linking group having n to m carbons, wherein the alkyl linking group is substituted by one or more cyano (i.e., —CN) groups.
  • the cyanoalkylene group contains 1 cyano group.
  • C n-m alkyl refers to a saturated hydrocarbon group that may be straight-chain or branched, having n to m carbons.
  • alkyl moieties include, but are not limited to, chemical groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl; higher homologs such as 2-methyl-1-butyl, n-pentyl, 3-pentyl, n-hexyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, and the like.
  • the alkyl group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms.
  • halo refers to F, Cl, Br, or I. In some embodiments, the halo is F, Cl, or Br. In some embodiments, the halo is F or Cl.
  • C n-m haloalkyl refers to an alkyl group having from one halogen atom to 2s+1 halogen atoms which may be the same or different, where “s” is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group has n to m carbon atoms.
  • the haloalkyl group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the haloalkyl group contains 1 halo group.
  • C n-m hydroxyalkyl refers to an alkyl group having from one hydroxy group (i.e., —OH) to 2s+1 hydroxy groups, where “s” is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group has n to m carbon atoms.
  • the hydroxyalkyl group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the hydroxyalkyl group contains 1 hydroxy group.
  • C n-m cyanoalkyl refers to an alkyl group having from one cyano group (i.e., —CN) to 2s+1 cyano groups, where “s” is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, wherein the alkyl group has n to m carbon atoms.
  • the cyanoalkyl group contains 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, the cyanoalkyl group contains 1 cyano group.
  • di(C n-m -alkyl)amino refers to a group of formula —N(alkyl) 2 , wherein the two alkyl groups each have, independently, n to m carbon atoms. In some embodiments, each alkyl group independently has 1 to 3 carbon atoms or 1 to 2 carbon atoms.
  • cycloalkyl refers to non-aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons including cyclized alkyl and/or alkenyl groups.
  • Cycloalkyl groups can include mono- or polycyclic (e.g., having 2, 3 or 4 fused rings) groups and spirocycles. Cycloalkyl groups can have 3, 4, 5, or 6 ring-forming carbons (i.e., a C 3-6 cycloalkyl group). Ring-forming carbon atoms of a cycloalkyl group can be optionally substituted by oxo or sulfido (e.g., ⁇ O or ⁇ S).
  • Example cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like.
  • the cycloalkyl has 3-6 ring-forming carbon atoms (i.e., a C 3-6 cycloalkyl group).
  • heteroaryl refers to an aromatic mono- or polycyclic heterocycle having at least one heteroatom ring member selected from sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
  • the heteroaryl ring has 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatom ring members independently selected from nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen.
  • the heteroaryl has 5-6 ring atoms and 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatom ring members independently selected from nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.
  • Exemplary five-membered ring heteroaryls include, but are not limited to, thienyl, furyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazolyl, isothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, tetrazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-triazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, and 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl.
  • Exemplary six-membered ring heteroaryls include, but are not limited to, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, triazinyl and pyridazinyl.
  • heterocycloalkyl refers to non-aromatic monocyclic or polycyclic heterocycles having 1, 2, 3, or 4 ring-forming heteroatoms selected from O, N, or S. Included in heterocycloalkyl are monocyclic 4-, 5-, and 6-membered heterocycloalkyl groups.
  • heterocycloalkyl groups include, pyranyl, oxetanyl, azetidinyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, piperazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydrothienyl, piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, isothiazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl, oxazolidinyl, thiazolidinyl, imidazolidinyl, and the like.
  • Ring-forming carbon atoms and heteroatoms of a heterocycloalkyl group can be optionally substituted by oxo or sulfido (e.g., ⁇ O, ⁇ S).
  • the heterocycloalkyl group can be attached through a ring-forming carbon atom or a ring-forming heteroatom.
  • the heterocycloalkyl group contains 0 to 3 double bonds. In some embodiments, the heterocycloalkyl group contains 0 to 2 double bonds.
  • heterocycloalkyl moieties that have one or more aromatic rings fused (i.e., having a bond in common with) to the cycloalkyl ring, for example, benzo or thienyl derivatives of piperidine, morpholine, azepine, and the like.
  • a heterocycloalkyl group containing a fused aromatic ring can be attached through any ring-forming atom including a ring-forming atom of the fused aromatic ring.
  • the heterocycloalkyl has 5-6 ring atoms with 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.
  • phenylene refers to a divalent phenyl linking group.
  • heteroarylene refers to a divalent heteroaryl linking group.
  • the heteroarylene has 5-6 ring atoms.
  • heterocycloalkylene refers to a divalent heterocycloalkyl linking group.
  • the heterocycloalkylene has 5-6 ring atoms.
  • the definitions or embodiments refer to specific rings (e.g., an azetidine ring, a pyridine ring, etc.). Unless otherwise indicated, these rings can be attached to any ring member provided that the valency of the atom is not exceeded. For example, an azetidine ring may be attached at any position of the ring, whereas a pyridin-3-yl ring is attached at the 3-position.
  • Tautomeric forms result from the swapping of a single bond with an adjacent double bond together with the concomitant migration of a proton.
  • Tautomeric forms include prototropic tautomers which are isomeric protonation states having the same empirical formula and total charge.
  • Exemplary prototropic tautomers include ketone-enol pairs, amide-imidic acid pairs, lactam-lactim pairs, enamine-imine pairs, and annular forms where a proton can occupy two or more positions of a heterocyclic system, for example, 1H- and 3H-imidazole, 1H-, 2H- and 4H-1,2,4-triazole, 1H- and 2H-isoindole, and 1H- and 2H-pyrazole.
  • Tautomeric forms can be in equilibrium or sterically locked into one form by appropriate substitution.
  • phrases “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, compositions, and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.
  • the present application also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds described herein.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable salts refers to derivatives of the disclosed compounds wherein the parent compound is modified by converting an existing acid or base moiety to its salt form.
  • examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylic acids; and the like.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present application include the conventional non-toxic salts of the parent compound formed, for example, from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids.
  • the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present application can be synthesized from the parent compound which contains a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods.
  • such salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two; generally, non-aqueous media like ether, ethyl acetate, alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, or butanol) or acetonitrile (MeCN) are preferred.
  • non-aqueous media like ether, ethyl acetate, alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, or butanol) or acetonitrile (MeCN) are preferred.
  • suitable salts are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 1985, p. 1418 and Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 66, 2 (1977). Conventional methods for preparing salt forms are described, for example, in Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts
  • the present application further provides a method of sensitizing and/or activating pro-apoptotic activity of BAX.
  • the method comprises contacting a cell sample or tissue sample comprising BAX with a composition provided herein (e.g., a composition comprising a compound of Formulas I-III or a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof).
  • a composition provided herein e.g., a composition comprising a compound of Formulas I-III or a compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
  • the term “contacting” refers to the bringing together of indicated components in an in vitro system.
  • “contacting” a BAX polypeptide with a composition provided herein includes introducing a compound of the invention into a sample (e.g., a cell sample or tissue sample) containing a cellular or purified preparation containing the BAX polypeptide.
  • the composition comprising a compound of Formulas I-III or the compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV sensitizes activation of the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide by another pro-apoptotic agent (i.e., enhancing the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide induced by the pro-apoptotic agent) in the cell sample or tissue sample.
  • the composition described herein may or may not itself activate the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide.
  • the composition comprising a compound of Formulas I-III or the compound comprising a moiety of Formula IV activates the pro-apoptotic activity of the BAX polypeptide in the cell sample or tissue sample.
  • the composition can be administered either in the presence or in the absence of another pro-apoptotic agent.
  • the present application provides a method of sensitizing and/or activating pro-apoptotic activity of BAX in a subject.
  • the method comprises administering to the subject a compound or composition provided herein.
  • the compound or composition provided herein sensitizes activation of the pro-apoptotic activity of BAX in the subject (e.g., when the composition is administered in combination with another pro-apoptotic agent).
  • the compound or composition provided herein activates the pro-apoptotic activity of BAX in the subject (e.g., when the compositions is administered in the presence or absence of another pro-apoptotic agent).
  • the term “subject,” refers to any animal, including mammals.
  • the subject examples include, but are not limited to, mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, swine, cattle, sheep, horses, primates, and humans.
  • the subject is a human.
  • the method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a composition provided herein.
  • therapeutically effective amount refers to the amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response that is being sought in a tissue, system, animal, individual or human by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor, or other clinician.
  • the present application further provides a method of treating cancer in a subject.
  • the method comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a composition provided herein.
  • Exemplary cancers include, but are not limited to, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, malignant melanoma, ovarian cancer, brain cancer, primary brain carcinoma, head-neck cancer, glioma, glioblastoma, liver cancer, bladder cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, head or neck carcinoma, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma, lung carcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, Wilms' tumor, cervical carcinoma, testicular carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, stomach carcinoma, colon carcinoma, prostatic carcinoma, genitourinary carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma, myeloma, multiple myeloma, adrenal carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, adrenal cortex carcinoma, malignant pancreatic insulinoma, malignant carcinoid carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, mycosis fungoides, malignant hypercalcemia, cervical hyperplasia, leukemia, neuroblastoma,
  • Exemplary leukemias and lymphomas include, but are not limited to, erythroblastic leukemia, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute promyeloid leukemia (APML), acute granulocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (e.g., B-lineage ALL and T-lineage ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic granulocytic leukemia, prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), hairy cell leukemia (HLL), Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, peripheral T cell lymphomas, adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGF), Hodgkin's
  • the leukemia is selected from the group consisting of acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic granulocytic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia.
  • the leukemia is selected from the group consisting of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
  • the present application further provides a method for identifying a compound which activates the pro-apoptotic activity of a BAX polypeptide.
  • the method comprises:
  • binding site of the BAX polypeptide comprises the junction of the ⁇ 3- ⁇ 4 and ⁇ 5- ⁇ 6 hairpins of the BAX polypeptide.
  • the determining step is performed by saturation transfer difference NMR, HSQC NMR, surface plasmon resonance, biolayer interferometry, or competitive fluorescence polarization assay.
  • binding of the compound to the BAX polypeptide causes a change in the signal of the NMR spectrum of the compound.
  • the method further comprises detecting activation of the BAX polypeptide by the compound.
  • the detecting step comprises performing an assay selected from the group consisting of detecting BAX oligomerization, antibody-based detection of BAX conformers, a mitochondrial cytochrome c release assay, a liposomal release assay, a cell death assay, a mitochondrial or cellular morphology assay, a mitochondrial calcium flux assay, a mitochondrial transmembrane quantitation assay, and quantitation of caspase 3 activity or annexin V binding.
  • an assay selected from the group consisting of detecting BAX oligomerization, antibody-based detection of BAX conformers, a mitochondrial cytochrome c release assay, a liposomal release assay, a cell death assay, a mitochondrial or cellular morphology assay, a mitochondrial calcium flux assay, a mitochondrial transmembrane quantitation assay, and quantitation of caspase 3 activity or annexin V binding.
  • said compound binds to said binding site with an affinity of ⁇ 1 mM, for example, ⁇ 750 nM, ⁇ 500 nM, ⁇ 250 nM, ⁇ 100 nM, ⁇ 50 nM, ⁇ 25 nM, ⁇ 10 nM, and the like.
  • the methods provided herein further comprise administering one or more additional therapeutic agents (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents) and/or performing one or more additional medical techniques (e.g., radiation therapies, surgical interventions, and the like) to a subject, in vitro cell samples, tissue samples, and/or organ samples.
  • additional therapeutic agents e.g., chemotherapeutic agents
  • additional medical techniques e.g., radiation therapies, surgical interventions, and the like
  • the methods further comprise administering one or more additional therapeutic agents selected from the group consisting of: agents that induce apoptosis; polynucleotides (e.g., anti-sense, ribozymes, siRNA); polypeptides (e.g., enzymes and antibodies); biological mimetics (e.g., BH3 mimetics); agents that bind to and inhibit anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., agents that inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins); alkaloids; alkylating agents; antitumor antibiotics; antimetabolites; hormones; platinum compounds; monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies (e.g., antibodies conjugated with anticancer drugs, toxins, defensins, and the like), toxins, radionuclides; biological response modifiers (e.g., interferons such as IFN- ⁇ and the like) and interleukins (e.g., IL-2 and the like); adoptive immunotherapy agents; hematop
  • the methods further comprise administering one or more additional therapeutic agents that bind to and inhibit anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., agents that inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins), such as ABT-263, obatoclax, gossypol derivatives, IAP inhibitors, and stapled peptides that target anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., MCL-1 SAHB, BID SAHB, BAD SAHB, BIM SAHB, and the like).
  • anti-apoptotic proteins e.g., agents that inhibit anti-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins
  • the methods further comprise administering one or more additional therapeutic agents (e.g., pro-apoptotic agents) that bind to and activate the pro-apoptotic activity of BAX (e.g., BIM SAHB A2 ).
  • additional therapeutic agents e.g., pro-apoptotic agents
  • BAX e.g., BIM SAHB A2
  • additional therapeutic agents e.g., pro-apoptotic agents
  • BAX e.g., BIM SAHB A2
  • additional therapeutic agents e.g., pro-apoptotic agents
  • BAX e.g., BIM SAHB A2
  • the methods further comprise administering one or more additional therapeutic agents that induce or stimulate apoptosis.
  • Agents that induce apoptosis include, but are not limited to, radiation (e.g., X-rays, gamma rays, UV); kinase inhibitors (e.g., Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor, Vascular Growth Factor Receptor (VGFR) kinase inhibitor, Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) kinase inhibitor, Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR) kinase inhibitor, and Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors such as GLEEVEC); antisense molecules; antibodies (e.g., HERCEPTIN, RITUXAN, ZEVALIN, and AVASTIN); anti-estrogens (e.g., raloxifene and tamoxifen); anti-androgens (e.g.
  • the subject is a subject in need thereof (e.g., a subject identified as being in need of such treatment, such as a subject having, or at risk of having, one or more of the diseases provided herein). Identifying a subject in need of such treatment can be in the judgment of a subject or a health care professional and can be subjective (e.g., opinion) or objective (e.g., measurable by a test or diagnostic method).
  • the subject has not previously undergone chemotherapy. In some embodiments, the subject is not suffering from, or at risk of, thrombocytopenia, such as thrombocytopenia resulting from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or bone marrow transplantation as treatment for cancer or lymphoma.
  • thrombocytopenia such as thrombocytopenia resulting from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or bone marrow transplantation as treatment for cancer or lymphoma.
  • the additional therapeutic agent is administered prior to, simultaneously with, or after administration of a composition provided herein.
  • the composition provided herein is administered during a surgical procedure.
  • the composition provided herein is administered in combination with an additional therapeutic agent during a surgical procedure.
  • treating refers to one or more of (1) inhibiting the disease; for example, inhibiting a disease, condition or disorder in an individual who is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the disease, condition or disorder (i.e., arresting further development of the pathology and/or symptomatology); and (2) ameliorating the disease; for example, ameliorating a disease, condition or disorder in an individual who is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the disease, condition or disorder (i.e., reversing the pathology and/or symptomatology) such as decreasing the severity of disease or reducing or alleviating one or more symptoms of the disease.
  • such terms refer to one, two, three or more results following the administration of one or more therapies: (1) a stabilization, reduction or elimination of a cancer cell population, (2) an increase in the length of cancer remission, (3) a decrease in the recurrence rate of a cancer, (4) an increase in the time to recurrence of a cancer, and (6) an increase in the survival of the patient.
  • vMIA 131 EALKKALRRHRFLWQRRQRA 150 -CONH 2
  • FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate
  • BAX was expressed in BL21 (DE3) E. coli using the pTYB1 vector (see e.g., Suzuki et al, Cell, 2000, 103:645-654; Gavathiotis et al, Nature, 2008, 455:1076-1081).
  • Cell pellets were resuspended in 20 mM Tris, 250 mM NaCl, pH 7.2 and lysed by two passes through a microfluidizer (Microfluidics) chilled to 4° C. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation at 20,000 rpm.
  • BAX was purified by batch affinity binding at 4° C.
  • chitin resin New England Biolabs
  • the intein-chitin binding domain tag was cleaved by 36-hour incubation in 50 mM dithiothreitol at 4° C. Pure protein was isolated by size exclusion chromatography (Superdex 75 10/300; 20 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.2) using an FPLC system (GE Healthcare Life Sciences).
  • the Ro3 diversity compound library was purchased from Maybridge, characterized by 1 H-NMR, and then pooled in groups of 10 to minimize spectral overlap. Forty compounds were excluded prior to screening as part of a quality control measure that identifies poorly-behaved compounds. Fragment pools were added to a 5 ⁇ M solution of unlabeled, full-length human BAX in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2 in 10% (v/v) D 2 O, resulting in a final compound concentration of 300 ⁇ M. The mixing and loading of samples into a 5-mm NMR tube was performed using a liquid handling robot (Gilson). STD-NMR measurements were acquired at 25° C.
  • each pool was analyzed to identify individual binders using inhouse display analysis and display software, which allowed for precise alignment of on- and off-resonance spectra.
  • Compounds in pools that yielded a positive STD signal were then subdivided into groups of three for retesting. Those compounds that exhibited STD in both experiments were reordered from Maybridge and tested both as single compounds and in competitive binding experiments.
  • STD-NMR saturation transfer difference
  • the Maybridge Ro3 library of 1000 compounds was used for the BAX screen. Of the 96 pools analyzed, a positive STD signal was detected in 37, which represented 86 individual hits that were then rescreened in pools of three, ultimately yielding 56 confirmed interactors ( FIG. 1 b ). Fifty-three commercially available compounds were ordered, retested by STD as singletons, and confirmed as BAX-Interacting Fragments (BIFs 1-53). The results obtained from STD NMR and liposomal release assays are shown in Table 1. Structures of active compounds BIF-1 to BIF-53 are shown in Table 2.
  • LUVs Large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with a lipid composition similar to the outer mitochondrial membrane were formed by liposome extrusion as previously described (see e.g., Leshchiner et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2013, 110:E986-995; Lovell et al, Cell, 2008, 135:1074-1084).
  • lipid mixture containing a 48:28:10:10:4 molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, dioleoyl phosphatidylserine, and tetraoleolyl cardiolipin (Avanti Polar Lipids) was generated in chloroform. Lipid films were formed by evaporation of solvent, initially under nitrogen gas and then by overnight vacuum, followed by storage at ⁇ 80° C. under nitrogen.
  • Lipid films were hydrated in 1 mL assay buffer (10 mM HEPES, 200 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , pH 7.0) and mixed with the fluorophore and quencher pair, 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (ANTS, 12.5 mM) and p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide (DPX, 45 mM).
  • Liposomes were formed by 5 freeze/thaw cycles followed by extrusion through a 100 nm polycarbonate membrane and purified using a Sepharose CL-2B size exclusion column.
  • BAX activation For measurement of BAX activation, BAX (750 nM) was added to the indicated concentration of molecular fragment in the presence of liposomes, followed by BIM SAHBA2 (750 nM), at the indicated time points. The assay was carried out in black opaque 384 well plates (30 ⁇ l per well). ANTS/DPX release was monitored over time at room temperature in a spectrofluorometer (Tecan Infinite M1000) using an excitation wavelength of 355 nm, an emission wavelength of 540 nm, and a bandwidth of 20 nm. Maximal release was determined by the addition of Triton X-100 to a final concentration of 0.2% (v/v). Percent release was calculated according to Equation 1 shown below, where F is the observed release, and F 0 and F 100 are baseline and maximal fluorescence, respectively.
  • the 53 BIFs were screen in the liposomal release assay described above, designed to identify both (1) direct BAX activators and (2) sensitizers or inhibitors of direct BAX activation induced by a stapled BIM BH3 helix, BIM SAHB A2 (aa 145-164) (see e.g., Gavathiotis et al, Nature, 2008, 455:1076-1081).
  • a novel sensitizer profile was most strikingly reflected by the activity of BIF-44, which had a minimal effect on BAX when incubated as a single agent, but when combined with BIM SAHB A2 , the maximal BAX-mediated release jumped from 50% with BIM SAHB A2 alone to 80% for the combination, and displayed more rapid kinetics ( FIG. 1 c ).
  • BIF-44 sensitization of BAX-mediated liposome release was independent of the order of addition of BIF-44 and BIM SAHB A2 .
  • the same level of BAX activation was achieved whether BIF-44 was added simultaneously (left), before (right), or after (middle) the addition of BIM SAHB A2 , as shown in FIG. 11 .
  • BAMs direct BAX activator molecules
  • BIF-44-like diaryl ethers that either replace the hydroxyl group with an amine in the same position, shift the hydroxyl to the meta position, or replace the ether linkage with a methylene group, all retain BAX-binding activity that is competed by vMIA, as assessed by STD NMR, and demonstrated robust BAX-sensitization activity ( FIGS. 3 a -3 c ).
  • diaryl ethers that bear a para-hydroxyl group in the second aromatic ring or that replace the BIF-44 hydroxyl with a carboxylate group, showed little to no BAX-binding or sensitization activity ( FIGS. 3 d -3 e ). These data provided evidence for a structure activity relationship that supports the specificity of action of BIF-44 in binding to BAX, competing with vMIA, and sensitizing BH3-mediated BAX activation.
  • CPMG experiments were performed using standard methods (see e.g., Hajduk et al, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119:12257-12261).
  • NMR analyses employed BIF-44 at a concentration of 300 ⁇ M, with or without added BAX (5 ⁇ M), in a 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2.
  • a 0.5 millisecond tau delay (1 ms per CPMG echo cycle) was applied, with the number of echo cycles corresponding to 500 ms.
  • Excitation sculpting was used for solvent suppression, as reported (see e.g., Hwang et al, J. Magn. Reson. A, 1995, 112:275-279).
  • FITC-peptide 25 nM was incubated with a serial dilution of recombinant, full length BAX in binding buffer (20 mM Potassium phosphate, pH 6.2).
  • binding buffer 20 mM Potassium phosphate, pH 6.2.
  • FITC-peptide 25 nM was mixed with a fixed concentration of BAX (250 nM) and incubated with a serial dilution of acetylated peptide or a compound described herein. Fluorescence polarization was measured at equilibrium using a SpectraMax M5 microplate reader. Nonlinear regression analysis of dose-response curves was performed using Prism software 7 (GraphPad).
  • BIF-44 directly binds to BAX, an interaction not competed by BIM SAHB A2 , and dose-responsively sensitizes BIM SAHB A2 -triggered, BAX-mediated membrane poration.
  • vMIA is a cytomegalovirus protein implicated in blocking BAX-mediated apoptosis, which ensures host cell survival during viral infection and replication (see e.g., Amoult et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci . U.S.A. 2004, 101:7988-7993; Poncet et al, J. Biol . Chem. 2004, 279:22605-22614).
  • the BAX-binding domain of vMIA achieves its inhibitory effect by binding to a discrete pocket formed by the flexible loops between helices ⁇ 1/ ⁇ 2, ⁇ 3/ ⁇ 4, and ⁇ 5/ ⁇ 6 and a portion of the C-terminal ⁇ 9 helix, preventing BAX-activating conformational changes by stabilizing the ⁇ 3/ ⁇ 4 and ⁇ 5/ ⁇ 6 hairpins8.
  • BIF-44 dose-responsively competed with FITC-vMIA for BAX interaction as assessed by competitive fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) ( FIG. 2 d , FIG. 8 b ). This finding was confirmed by competitive-STD NMR, which demonstrated a reduction in the BIF-44 STD signal upon co-incubation with vMIA peptide ( FIG. 2 e ).
  • ⁇ ⁇ ? ⁇ 1 ⁇ / ⁇ 2 ⁇ ? ⁇ ( ( ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ H ) ⁇ ? + ( ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ N ⁇ / ⁇ ? ) ⁇ ? ) Equation ⁇ ⁇ 2 ? ⁇ indicates text missing or illegible when filed
  • the Schrodinger software suite (Version 2016-2) was used for docking calculations. Conformations of molecule BIF-44 were generated in MacroModel using the OPLS3 forcefield (see e.g., Harder et al, J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2016, 12:281-296). Each of the 20 NMR conformations of Bax (PDB:1F16) was separately prepared using the default parameters in the PrepWiz wizard in Maestro. The docking receptor grid (radius 1 nm) was defined at the center of Ala124, the amino acid with the greatest HSQC shift. BIF-44 was then docked onto all 20 structures using Glide Extra Precision (XP) mode (see e.g., Friesner et al, J. Med. Chem. 2006, 49:6177-6196). The top-scoring poses were then manually inspected for consistency with experimentally-determined HSQC shifts for the complex.
  • XP Glide Extra Precision
  • the first NMR structure of BAX from PDB ID 1F16 was used as the starting structure for MD calculations.
  • the protein was prepared using the default parameters of the Protein Preparation Workflow in Maestro (see e.g., Sastry et al, J. Comput. Aided Mol. Des. 2013, 27:221-234). Protonation states were those predicted to occur at pH 7.0 using the Epik module (see e.g., Shelley et al, J. Comput. Aided Mol. Des. 2007, 21:681-691). Protein was pre-soaked in a cubic box of TIP3P water molecules using the System Builder workflow in Desmond (see e.g., Jorgensen et al, The Journal of Chemical Physics, 1983, 79:926-935).
  • the box was sized such that all peptide atoms were at least 1 nm from the boundaries. All overlapping solvent molecules were removed, the system was charge neutralized with appropriate counterions, and 150 mM NaCl was added to simulate buffer conditions. All MD simulations were performed using the Desmond package, with the OPLS3 forcefield applied to model all interactions. Periodic boundary conditions were maintained throughout. Long-range electrostatic interactions were calculated using the particle-mesh Ewald method (see e.g., Essmann et al, J. Chem. Phys. 1995, 103:8577-8593), and van der Waals and short-range electrostatic interactions were smoothly truncated at 0.9 nm.
  • Constant system temperature of 300 K was maintained using Nose-Hoover thermostats (see e.g., Hoover et al, Phys. Rev. A. Gen. Phys. 1985, 31:1695-1697), and system pressure was maintained at 1 atm using the Martina-Tobias-Klein method (see e.g., Martyna et al, J. Chem. Phys. 1994, 101:4177-4189).
  • the equations of motion were integrated using the RESPA integrator (see e.g., Humphreys et al, J Phys.
  • Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS) experiments were performed as previously described (see e.g., Barclay et al, Mol. Cell, 2015, 57:873-886; Lee et al, Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 2016, 23:600-607).
  • Deuterium labeling was initiated with an 18-fold dilution into D 2 O buffer (10 mM HEPES, 200 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , pD 7.0) of a pre-equilibrated (15 min, room temperature) aliquot of each BAX protein, molecule, peptide, and/or antibody (BAX BH3, Abgent AP1302a; BAX 6A7, Santa Cruz Biotechnology sc-23959) mixture. At the indicated time points, the labeling reaction was quenched with the addition of an equal volume of quench buffer (0.8 M guanidinium chloride, 0.8% formic acid [v/v]). Each deuterium labeling experiment was performed in at least duplicate.
  • Proteolysis was performed by incubation on ice with 40 ⁇ g pepsin and 20 ⁇ g factor XIII for 5 min. Digested samples were then processed and analyzed as described previously (see e.g., Barclay et al, Mol. Cell, 2015, 57:873-886). The relative deuterium levels of identified peptides common to all evaluated conditions are shown. The error of determining the average deuterium incorporation for each peptide was at or below +/ ⁇ 0.25 Da. Relative deuterium levels for each peptide were calculated by subtracting the average mass of the undeuterated control sample from that of the deuterium-labeled sample. All mass spectra were processed using DynamX 3.0 (Waters Corporation). Deuterium levels were not corrected for back exchange and thus reported as relative (see e.g., Wales et al, Mass Spectrom. Rev. 2006, 25:158-170).
  • HXMS hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass
  • backbone hydrogens of flexible and/or exposed protein regions rapidly exchange with deuterium, whereas buried domains and/or those regions that contain hydrogen-bonding involving backbone amide hydrogens (such as in ⁇ -helices) demonstrate slowed or suppressed deuterium exchange (see e.g., Laiken et al, Biochemistry, 1969, 8:519-526; Printz et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1972, 69:378-382; Shi et al, Anal. Chem. 2013, 85:11185-11188).
  • an antibody such as 6A7 that binds to an alternate region of the protein, which becomes exposed upon BH3-triggered BAX activation (aa 12-24) (see e.g., Gavathiotis et al, Nature, 2008, 455:1076-1081; Hsu et al, J. Biol . Chem. 1997, 272:13829-13834), would serve as a negative control. Indeed, it was found that the BH3 Ab selectively suppressed the observed deuterium exchange promoted by BIF-44 in the BAX BH3 region ( FIG. 5 c ), whereas the 6A7 antibody had no inhibitory effect on BIF-44 mediated-deprotection ( FIG. 5 d ).
  • BIM SAHB A2 HXMS analyses of BAX in the presence of BIF-44, BIM SAHB A2 , or the combination were performed.
  • BIM SAHB A2 directly binds to the N-terminal trigger site formed by the confluence of ⁇ -helices 1 and 6 and displaces the ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop leading to 6A7 epitope exposure (see e.g., Gavathiotis et al, Mol.
  • BIF-44 engaged a distant site, causing focal allosteric changes localized to the distal ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 loop and the BH3 ⁇ 2 helix ( FIG. 6 a ).
  • Combined treatment markedly amplified deprotection of essentially the entire ⁇ 1- ⁇ 2 region ( FIGS. 6 a -6 b ), consistent with the ability of BIF-44 to effectively sensitize BIM SAHB A2 -mediated conformational activation of BAX.
  • Liver mitochondria (0.5 mg/mL) from Alb Cre Bax f/f Bak ⁇ / ⁇ mice were isolated and release assays performed as described (see e.g., Walensky et al, Mol. Cell, 2006, 24:199-210). Briefly, mitochondria were incubated with 100 nM BAX, 250 nM BIM SAHB A2 and/or the indicated concentrations of BIF-44 for 45 min at room temperature in experimental buffer (200 mM mannitol, 68 mM sucrose, 10 mM HEPES-KOH [pH 7.4], 110 mM KCl, 1 mM EDTA, protease inhibitor) (see e.g., Llambi et al, Mol.
  • cytochrome c was quantitated using a colorimetric ELISA (R&D Systems). Percent cytochrome c released into the supernatant (% cyto c release) was calculated according to Equation 3, where cyto c sup and cyto c max represent the amount of cytochrome c detected in the supernatant of compound- or 1% (v/v) Triton X-100-treated samples, respectively.
  • % cyto c release [cyto c sup ]/[cyto c max ]*100 Equation 3.
  • the NMR screen identified a small molecule BAX sensitizer that facilitates the initiation of BH3-mediated direct BAX activation by a novel allosteric mechanism.
  • Binding affinity was measured by adding 0.15 mM recombinant BAX protein to the cell and injecting 2.0 ⁇ L of 1.0 mM ligand by syringe for a total of 30 injections using an Affinity ITC (TA instruments) at 25° C.
  • BAX and BIF-44 solutions were prepared in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.2), with a final concentration of 2% (v/v) DMSO. The samples were centrifuged for 15 min at 4° C. before titration.
  • T2 decay curves were generated by measuring the CPMG NMR spectra of the molecules, performed as described above. The number of echo cycles corresponds to the decay time. The intensity of the aromatic peaks at the indicated decay times were measured and normalized to a maximum intensity of 1 at the 10 ms decay time. The curves were fitted to a one phase decay model using Prism software (Graphpad). Excitation sculpting was used for solvent suppression. Samples for both analyses were prepared in 20 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.2, 10% (v/v) D 2 O. Results of these measurements are described in FIGS. 12-13 .
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